I am looking for waterproof dyes to mark white feathers of Peruvian boobies and Guanay cormorants. A friend of mine recommended me to use nail polish, but I am looking for other methods that can last for at least a couple of months. If you know of any other method, brand and where I can purchase it I would appreciate your help. IN the past I used picric acid, but it lasts only for a week.
Carlos,
I've used several things that last 2-4 months. It's good to put marks in an area that they can't preen with their bill (top of Head, upper chest/neck, so they don't ingest anything.
Lead free spray paint works great. Cattle markers - look at a farm supply catalog - work great. Tatoo ink works great.
You may want to experiment with markers. A small spray bottle that you can carry.
Betty Anne
Hi Carlos! I do not have an answer but I would love to know the answer too! Andrea Raya Rey
Carlos,
I've used several things that last 2-4 months. It's good to put marks in an area that they can't preen with their bill (top of Head, upper chest/neck, so they don't ingest anything.
Lead free spray paint works great. Cattle markers - look at a farm supply catalog - work great. Tatoo ink works great.
You may want to experiment with markers. A small spray bottle that you can carry.
Betty Anne
Thanks Betty Anne for your suggestions. I will try some of them and see what work better. The advice of marking areas they can´t preen is great.
Hi Carlos,
Given that you are marking white feathers, you could use picric acid.
I have used this for marking glaucous winged gulls and black legged kittiwakes.
Positives: It permanently marks the feathers an orange/yellow color that is quite visible. It is easy to apply...simply soak a sponge and apply.
Down side: it can be explosive under certain conditions. do a web search for safety measures. Also, you need to wear cloves as it will turn your hands yellow just like it does feathers.
I have also used a large black sharpie on gulls and kittiwakes. Easy to put a fat black stripe down their white head. This mark remains visible for >1 month.
Good luck!
Loren
Thanks Loren:
I used picric acid once before, but didn´t last long much (perhaps two weeks). Never used black sharpies, I will to see how ir works.
Hi Carlos,
I have used pig markers as well (those ones : https://www.greenscountrystore.co.uk/article/marking-sticks/16633), on seabirds. They work great and the markings are easy to spot from a distance for at least several weeks, then the marks can wear off a little, but no completely so that it is still possible to see them several months after, but from closer. Darker colours (especially green and blue), work far better on white feathers (i.e. they hold much longer). In a few instances, we recaptured birds from the previous year whose marks were still visible. I can provide some pictures if that can be of any help.
Best,
Arnaud
Thanks Arnaud. I checked the marking sticks in internet and are the same a friend of mine lend me to use this season. Never tried before, so I wanted to see what other good marks are good.
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